Walmart expands check, card cashing services

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart announced on Monday that it is expanding its check and card cashing services to accept more types of checks and take more forms of identification from shoppers.

The expansion includes cashing most types of pre-printed checks up to $5,000 and accepting more forms of ID for check cashing, as well as establishing exclusive “Express Check Cashing” check-out lanes at selected stores during peak hours. The chain, which already accepts driver's licenses, military IDs and tribal IDs, will now also accept state IDs and U.S. passports as identification for check cashing.

Walmart, which already cashes payroll, government and tax refund checks for customers, will now also accept student loan, insurance and pension checks up to $5,000, among other kinds of checks. Customers will be also able to cash payroll cards and some government benefit cards at Wal-Mart's stores.

In addition, customers will now be able to cash payroll cards and eligible government benefit cards down to the penny.

"We know more and more of our customers have a need to cash these kinds of cards, and it's important that they're able to gain access to all their cash," said Daniel Eckert, head of Walmart Financial Services. Eckert. "We're excited to be the first major retailer to make it possible to cash these types of cards to the penny and give every cent to the customer, instead of in $10 or $20 increments."